Service!

Recently there was a tad of a hullaballoo on the Check Your 6! discussion group regarding metal vs. resin planes, to which I had made a lengthy response, mostly pointing out to someone who apparently did not like my choosing of 3D prints over metal as some sort of sin. In my response I had mentioned that I had a recent issue with some early model Raiden P-38s that I had purchased from I-94 - some of the booms being rather twisted and really unable to be twisted back into place due to the brittleness of the metal - I needed the Lightnings for my Operation Vengeance project, and Raiden happens to be the only mainstream maker of an early model. I had also mentioned in my post that I did not reach out to I-94 because I have had "favors" from Dave in the past and I did not want to complain. Dave reached out to me and offered to make things right, and gave me some great insight as to some of my mistaken comments in my post about mold wear and such. 

Today I received a pair of replacement Lightnings and once again I-94 shows why their service has always been top notch. Not only did Dave set me up with perfectly cast miniatures, but he also sent a second decal sheet from the Genda's Blade pack that others had mentioned having some issues with (I have the Genda's Blade pack, but have yet to try the decals from the set). Dave did not have to do that, but he did. That says even more about his business practices and he wanted to ensure that in case I had an issue with the first set of decals that I had a second set at hand.

My go to choice for planes will always be the 3D prints - they are scaled so nicely with fine details and usually good price points. They also are lighter and less prone to tipping. But my go to choice for rules and scenario books will always be I-94.

Adding the Morko Morane

Within the Check Your 6! rules are ratings for both the French and the Finnish versions of the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406. Realistically there should be at least one more version, the Klimov engined Mörkö Moraani. I do not believe the Finland listing for the M.S.406 is representative of the Mörkö, but is a slight modification the Finns did to their M.S.406s, which moved the 406 model more towards the 410, by adding two additional wing guns and a simpler and more streamlined radiator. These changes are not reflected in the rules - both the French and Finnish listings have the same ratings, other than a reduced climb rate for the Finnish model. However, the Mörkö, featuring the more powerful Soviet engine, saw markedly improved performance from a speed and climb rate perspective. Granted, the use of the Moraani was rather limited, mostly a late war plane, but this "Frankenstein" is still an interesting and an ugly cool looking aircraft, albeit slightly better looking than the original. Starting in the summer of 1944, the Moraani saw service with Lentolaivue 28, with one pilot scoring three victories using the Mörkö.

Here are the stats for the existing planes, as well as my version of the Mörkö Moraani.

Just who makes the M.S.406 and the Mörkö? My "big three" choices, when it comes to 1/285 scale, are Flight Deck Decals, Raiden Miniatures (I-94 Enterprises), and Table Top Flights. All three offer the standard M.S.406, while Flight Deck and Table Top have the specific Finnish Mörkö. So if you are looking for something different, consider the Frankenstein of the M.S. series.

Image from Flight Deck Decals website

Recent Purchases – Luft1946

In my first order from The Miniatures Marketplace (mostly Second World War aircraft) and added four MiG-9s as part of a project I have slowly been collecting miniatures, but sadly have yet to do anything with. The "what if the war continued" possibilities allows an interesting mix of aircraft to be gathered on the tabletop. 

Not quite as "crisp" as Flight Deck or Table Top, but very serviceable

Flight Deck Yak-15, The Miniatures Marketplace MiG-9, Flight Deck Focke-Wulf Projekt II, and a Table Top Focke-Wulf Ta 183 above